Securing device for mats.



C. F. KRESS, jR- SECURING DEHGE FOR MATS. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 19H.

Patented Aug 14,1917

s E s s E N n w UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL F. KRESS, JR., OF WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

SECURING DEVICE FOR MATS.

Application filed February 9, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL F. KREss,-Jr., a citizen of the United States, residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Securing Devices for Mats, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of an automobile and showing a running board mat having one form of my invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the running board and mat with the securing device applied;

Figs. 3 and 4E are perspective views showing1 two different forms of securing device; anc

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the application of the securing device of Fig. 4..

My invention has relation to securing devices for mats, and while it has been more particularly designed to provide means for securing mats to the running boards of automobiles, it may be used for other purposes.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of this character, which is simple in its construction, which can be readily manufactured and easily applied to and removed from a mat and the running board or other object to which the mat is to be secured, and which is provided with means for engaging the mat in a manner to effectively prevent its accidental detachment therefrom.

The nature of my invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated two different forms of my invention, and which will now be described, it being pre mised, however, that the invention is susceptible of other modifications and changes in detail within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Referring, first, to that form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, the numeral 2 designates the running board of an automobile, and 3 a mat supported thereon and secured in place by means of my improved fastenings. As shown in these fig- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, 1917. Serial No. 147,602.

ures, two of these fastenings are employed, one for each end portion of the mat. Y

Each fastening is formed from a single piece of spring wire having one end portion bent in a substantially horizontal direction to form a penetrating member or bodkin 4:, which can be inserted into the fabric of the mat in the manner shown in Fig. 2. From the outer end of this bodkin member, the wire is bent downward in approximately a vertical direction to form the portion 5, which lies against the outer edge of the running board 2, and thence is bent backwardly underneath the bodkin member 4L and back upon itself to form the spring-clamping arm or loop 6. The other free end of the wire is carried upwardly at one side of the portion 5, is then bent across the outer portion of the bodkin 4c, and then downwardly, as shown at 7, to form a pin or prong, which can be inserted behind the edge binding 8 of the mat. The members forming the clamping arm or loop 6 preferably lie in relatively close portion of their length, and are curved downwardly, as indicated at 9, and thence upwardly, asshown at 10, in order to give a strong spring action. The clamping arm or loop 6 may be made in any suitable form or shape, and is preferably curved downwardly at its end portion, as shown at 11, so as to facilitate slipping the device over the edge of the running board. The downward bend 9 also adapts the device to running boards of different thicknesses.

he manner of attaching and applying the securing device will be readily apparent from the accompanying drawing and from the foregoing description. The bodkin member can be readily inserted into the fabric of the mat and the mat and securing devices can be quickly and readily engaged with the running board. The engagement of the locking member 7 with the outer edge binding of the mat can be effected by raising said hook as the bodkin member is pushed all the way in and then releasing it, while in engaging position with respect to the binding. The spring action will then cause a secure engagement to be effected, and thus effectively prevents the securing device from becoming accidentally disengaged. The securing device can, however, be readily removed from the mat, if desired, by pressing relation to each other for a upwardly on the bend at 9 to thereby disengage the member 7 from the binding. In service, the spring connection of the clamping arm 6 tends to securely hold the member 7 in its engagement with such binding.

The form of my invention shown in Figs. l and 5 difiers from that shown in the preceding figures, in that the locking member 7*, instead of being bent downwardly, as be fore described, is bent horizontally and is engaged with the edge binding 8 from the lower side instead of from the top, as shown in Fig. 5. If desired, the bodkin member 4: may be provided with a downward bend or ofiset 12, adapted to receive therein and securely lock the member 7 It will be obvious that the end portion of the wire can be bent in various other ways to form a hook for engagement with the front edge of the mat, either detachably or permanently.

The devices above described can be very cheaply and readily made from single pieces of wire. The long bodkin members a not only firmly attach the securing devices to the mat, but they also constitute stiffening means for the mat, whereby it will lie smoothly upon the running board or other supporting surface. The provision of looking means, such as described, will effectively prevent the securing devices from jarring or shaking loose from the mat, and the clamping action between the securing devices and the running board or other supporting surface is of such character as to efiectively prevent the mat from becoming loose or displaced.

1 claim:

1. A securing device for mats, comprising a bodkin member adapted to penetrate the mat in a substantially horizontal direction, a

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cent spring clamping member lying substantially parallel with the bodkin member, and a looking member arranged to be engaged with an edge binding of the mat to lock the device to the mat, substantially as described.

2. A securing device for mats, formed from a wire having one end portion bent to form a bodkin member adapted to penetrate the mat, its intermediate portion bent to form a spring-clamping loop or arm lying below the bodkin member, and its other end portion being bent for locking engagement with one edge portion of a mat, substantially as described.

3. A securing device for mats formed "from a wire having one end portion bent to form a bodkin member adapted to penetrate the mat, its intermediate portion bent to form a spring-clamping loop or arm lying below the bodkin member, and its other end portion being bent for locking engagement with one edge portion of a mat, and also having looking engagement with the bodkin member, substantially as described.

4. A securing device for mats, comprising a bodkin member, a spring clamping member, and an end portion bent to form a looking member, substantially as described.

5. A securing device for mats, comprising a member adapted to engage the mat and clamp it to a securing surface, said member having a hook portion arranged for locking engagement with one edge of the mat, sub

stantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CARL F. KRESS, JR.

Witnesses:

Gno. B. BLEMING, FRANK Born.

5 each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

